Lubricator sight feed dome

ABSTRACT

Air line lubricator with sight dome drip feed, characterized by a metering needle valve, operated by a rotatable control knob having a locking ring which may be moved axially between locked and unlocked positions. When in locked position, it may be secured by a seal wire to prevent tampering with the metering adjustment. Replaceable inserts may be provided to select the size of oil drops which are delivered to an air stream.

[15] 3,707,204 [451 Dec. 26, 1972 United States Patent Dussardier 9/1961 Usab..........

[54] LUBRICATOR SIGHT FEED DOME 2,998,805 3,149,698 9/1964 Riske et al. [72] Inventor. Claude J. Dussardler, Littleton, 3,214,054 10/1965 Poems et aL Colo- 3,570,325 3/1971 Kroll et [73] Assignee: C. A. Norgren Co., Littleton, C010.

[22] Filed:

Primary ExaminerManuel A. Antonakas Attorney-Sheridan, Ross & Fields Sept. 13, 1971 21 A 1.No.: 179853 I 1 pp ABSTRACT Air line lubricator with sight dome drip feed, characterized by a metering needle valve, operated by a rotatable control knob having a locking ring which [51] Int. Cl.

[58] Field of Search..74/89.15, 527, 184/55 R may be moved axially between locked and unlocked positions. When in locked position, it may be secured by a seal wire to prevent tampering with the metering adjustment. Replaceable inserts may be provided to 72 20 A 5% "w 4 2 i m R 5 6 J m 6 $4 M MB 1, 77 51 5F 4 8 1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS select the size of oil drops which are delivered to an air stream.

Koertge et al. ..................74l527 UX 5/1958 Damon...............................74/$27 X 13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnmzs m2 R w MR W8 u D J E D u m C ATTORNEYS LUBRICATOR SIGHT FEED DOME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION delivered to a transparent sight dome through which the rate of flow may be observed. The general construction so far described is exemplified by various patents assigned to the C. A. Norgren Co. and as disclosed in various other patents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in a device of the type just described and particularly to the sight dome construction, its control or metering valve and other features associated therewith which may be briefly described by objects to provide:

A sight feed dome including a metering valve which cannot be accidentally removed and, when adjusted to a desired position, may be releasably locked against rotation;

A seal wire lock for the valve to prevent tampering with its adjustment;

A removable insert for the dome, which, by suitable selection of a certain dimension thereof, the size of an oil drop delivered by same may be adjusted.

A novel filter screen of increased filter area, which may also be readily removed for replacement or cleanmg.

Still further objects, advantages, and salient features will become more apparent from-the detailed description to follow, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing to now be briefly described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a central vertical section through the subject of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 22, FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a locking ring as viewed in the direction of arrow 3, FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 44, FIG. 1, with parts in a different position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, lubricator L is of any desired construction to the upper end of which is affixed sight dome through which the rate of oil feed to an air stream maybe observed. Briefly, dome 10 comprises an integral transparent body 12, 12a, a cylindrical insert 14, a needle valve 16, and a knob 18 ineluding a locking ring 20.

Body 12 is provided with equiangularly spaced channels 22, such as three, which deliver oil from annular Space 24 to chamber 26 from which it is fed at desired rate through annular metering aperture 28, surrounding frusto-conical needle tip 30.

Needlevalve 16 is provided with a flange 32 which threadedly engages body 12a for varying the size of metering aperture 28 and a stern 34'to the upper end of which is affixed knob 18 in any suitable manner, such as by press fit splines 36. An O-ring39 prevents leakage past stem 34. As will also be apparent, flange 32 prevents accidental removal of valve 16 The lower portion of knob 18 is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced locking legs 40, such as ten, which are provided with longitudinally extending splines 42 which may be sprung radially inwardly to engage corresponding splines 44 on body 12a, to thereby lock the knob against rotation. Each leg is-provided with an arcuate camming surface 46,,best shown in FIG. 1, the camming surfaces of all of the legs lying on the surface of a cone.

Locking ring 20 is secured to knob 18 by a pair of keys 48 on the knob which engage corresponding keyways'50 in the locking ring. The locking ring is thus affixed to knob 18 for conjoint rotation but may slide in an axial direction of the knob. The lower portion of the 'in FIG. 4. If it is then desired to prevent tampering with the adjustment, a seal wire (not shown) is disposed circumferentially in space 54 and its ends clamped together with a conventional lead seal. As will be apparent, the wire forms an abutment which prevents movement of the locking ring to its unlocked position.

Insert 14 snugly but removably fits within a cylindrical bore 55 in body 12, the upper end of which is provided with a cylindrical projection or spout 56, the diameter of which may be varied by substitution of inserts. Since oil flows at a low rate through the bleed orifice, it collects on the lower surface of spout 56 in the form of a generally spherical drop, the diameter of which may be controlledby selection of the diameter of spout 56.

Bore 55 is provided with a counterbore 58 at its lower end which forms an annular space 60 around insert 14. An annular screen 62, generally V-shaped in cross section, is disposed within this space to filter out any foreign matter in the oil. As will be apparent, this provides considerable filter screen area which obviates the necessity for frequent cleaning or replacement of a filter screen.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the periphery of ring 20 is provided with frusto-conical projections 64 which forms non-slip abutments for pushing, pulling and rotating same with the fingers of an operator, these normally being the thumb, index and middle fingers.

The various parts of the device, except for the O-ring and screen, are preferably formed of plastic material, employing moulding techniques which minimize cost of manufacture, and body 12 and insert 14 should be transparent so that rate of flow may be observed from all peripheral points therearound. Oil drops falling from spout 56 are induced into the air stream, such as Inml') n-Ml.

3 from a receiving venturi (not shown), as is understood in the art. The filter-screen is preferably formed of woven metal strands and the O ring "ispreferably formed ofoil resistant material, such as. synthetic rubber.Needle valve'16,'32,34 may be formed of metal,

if desired, as an automatic screw machine product with valve stem may vary the rate of flow through the discharge orifice, I

c. a knob affixed to the valve stem for rotating same,

said knob having resilient first locking means adapted to be urged radially-inwardly forv engaging second locking means spaced circumferentially on the dome body, whereby the knob may be locked at desired increments of its rotation,

c. said knob including .a locking ring for rotating same, said locking ring being mounted for slidable movement in the axial direction of the valve stem, and

f. a first camming surface on said locking ring said valve being affixed to a valve stem threadedly v engaging the dome body, whereby rotation of theadapted to cooperate with a second camming surface on said first locking means,

g. the construction and'arrangement being such that when the locking ring is moved axially in one direction, said camming surfaces cause said first locking means to engage said second locking means and lock the knob against rotation.

2. A lubricator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first locking means comprises a plurality of like angularly spaced legs disposed peripherally about the dome body having splines thereon extending parallel to the axial direction of the stern, said second. locking means being like splines engagable therewith.

3. A lubricator in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first and second camming surfaces are annuli of a common cone.

4. A lubricator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the valve stem is provided with a threaded flange adapted to abut a shoulder on the dome body, when rotated to a predetermined position, to prevent removal of the stem from the come body.

5. A lubricator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said dome body is provided withan annular recess, at the end thereof remote from the knob, an annular filter disposed within said recess and a channel communicating said annular recess with the supply side of said valve.

6. A lubricator in accordance with claim 5 wherein the filter is substantially V-shaped in cross section.

7. A lubricator in accordance with claim 1 including a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore in the dome body, and a tubular insert disposed in said bore, said inserthaving a wall at one end thereof, said discharge orifice extending axially throu said wall. I

8. lubricatorin accor ance with claim 7 wherein said wall includes an annular surface surrounding said discharge orifice on which a drop of lubricant may form, prior to dropping therefrom, the diameter of said 7 annular surface being variable by selection of inserts,

whereby drops of different size may be formedthereon.

9. A lubricator in accordance with claim 8 wherein valve.

10. A lubricator in accordance/with claim l wherein said locking ring may move axially between unlocked and locked positions, providing an annular space of variable width between one face of same and a face of a portion of the knob affixed to the stern, and a locking wire or the'like disposed circumferentially in said space for blocking axial movement of the ring toward un-' locked position.

11. A lubricator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the periphery of said ring is provided with angularly spaced isoceles trapezoidal recesses, facing in opposite directions, forming flat abutments' engagable -by the thumb, index and middle fingers of an operator for facilitating pushing and pulling the ring in opposite axial directions, and rotating same in opposite directions.

12. Means for axially positioning a rotatable first member threadedly connected to a fixed second member and for locking same in a desired axial position relative thereto, such as a rotatable needle valve relative to a fixed seat, to provide a variable orifice therebetween, comprising;

a. a knob member affixed to said first member for rotating same to a desired axial position,

b. said second member having a plurality of circumferentially disposed and angularly spaced splines therein, extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the first member,

. said first member having a plurality of angularly spaced resilient legs having second like splines,

d. said second splines normally being out of engagement with said first splines but adapted to engage therewith upon radial inward movement of said l g a ring member, forming a part of said knob, rotatable therewith and axially movable relative thereto, and

f. cooperatingcamming surfaces on said ring and on said legs for moving said legs radially inward upon axial movement of said ring for moving said splines into locking engagement.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said first member is a needle valve adapted to control the metering rate of lubricant across its mam? 0747 

1. In a lubricator of the type having an adjustable valve for metering lubricant to an air stream and a transparent sight dome body through which the rate of metering of the lubricant may be observed, the improvemeNts in combination, comprising: a. said dome body having a discharge orifice and a valve cooperating therewith, b. said valve being affixed to a valve stem threadedly engaging the dome body, whereby rotation of the valve stem may vary the rate of flow through the discharge orifice, c. a knob affixed to the valve stem for rotating same, d. said knob having resilient first locking means adapted to be urged radially inwardly for engaging second locking means spaced circumferentially on the dome body, whereby the knob may be locked at desired increments of its rotation, e. said knob including a locking ring for rotating same, said locking ring being mounted for slidable movement in the axial direction of the valve stem, and f. a first camming surface on said locking ring adapted to cooperate with a second camming surface on said first locking means, g. the construction and arrangement being such that when the locking ring is moved axially in one direction, said camming surfaces cause said first locking means to engage said second locking means and lock the knob against rotation.
 2. A lubricator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first locking means comprises a plurality of like angularly spaced legs disposed peripherally about the dome body having splines thereon extending parallel to the axial direction of the stem, said second locking means being like splines engagable therewith.
 3. A lubricator in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first and second camming surfaces are annuli of a common cone.
 4. A lubricator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the valve stem is provided with a threaded flange adapted to abut a shoulder on the dome body, when rotated to a predetermined position, to prevent removal of the stem from the come body.
 5. A lubricator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said dome body is provided with an annular recess, at the end thereof remote from the knob, an annular filter disposed within said recess and a channel communicating said annular recess with the supply side of said valve.
 6. A lubricator in accordance with claim 5 wherein the filter is substantially V-shaped in cross section.
 7. A lubricator in accordance with claim 1 including a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore in the dome body, and a tubular insert disposed in said bore, said insert having a wall at one end thereof, said discharge orifice extending axially through said wall.
 8. A lubricator in accordance with claim 7 wherein said wall includes an annular surface surrounding said discharge orifice on which a drop of lubricant may form, prior to dropping therefrom, the diameter of said annular surface being variable by selection of inserts, whereby drops of different size may be formed thereon.
 9. A lubricator in accordance with claim 8 wherein said cylindrical bore is provided with a concentric counterbore, providing an annular space around the insert, open at one side thereof, an annular filter disposed within said annular space, and a channel communicating said annular space with the supply side of said valve.
 10. A lubricator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said locking ring may move axially between unlocked and locked positions, providing an annular space of variable width between one face of same and a face of a portion of the knob affixed to the stem, and a locking wire or the like disposed circumferentially in said space for blocking axial movement of the ring toward unlocked position.
 11. A lubricator in accordance with claim 1 wherein the periphery of said ring is provided with angularly spaced isoceles trapezoidal recesses, facing in opposite directions, forming flat abutments engagable by the thumb, index and middle fingers of an operator for facilitating pushing and pulling the ring in opposite axial directions and rotating same in opposite directions.
 12. Means for axially positioning a rotatable first member threadedly connected to a fixed second member and for locking same in a desired axial position relativE thereto, such as a rotatable needle valve relative to a fixed seat, to provide a variable orifice therebetween, comprising; a. a knob member affixed to said first member for rotating same to a desired axial position, b. said second member having a plurality of circumferentially disposed and angularly spaced splines therein, extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the first member, c. said first member having a plurality of angularly spaced resilient legs having second like splines, d. said second splines normally being out of engagement with said first splines but adapted to engage therewith upon radial inward movement of said legs, e. a ring member, forming a part of said knob, rotatable therewith and axially movable relative thereto, and f. cooperating camming surfaces on said ring and on said legs for moving said legs radially inward upon axial movement of said ring for moving said splines into locking engagement.
 13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said first member is a needle valve adapted to control the metering rate of lubricant across its cooperating seat. 